How To Become a Concept Artist For Games

Concept art is one of the most competitive roles within the games industry. A dream job for many, learning how to become a concept artist is about more than just being able to draw.

Today we’ll be breaking down what it takes to become a concept artist for games, how you can break into the industry, and tips and tricks on networking.

Do You Need Qualifications to Become a Concept Artist?

No.

Although it won’t harm your CV, hiring managers for game studios aren’t interested in your degree – not if you can’t show them an absolutely killer portfolio. In fact, this is true for almost any art-based role. If you want to land the job, you’ll need to start by proving you can do it.

That’s not to say going to university is useless, of course. A university is a great place to develop contacts – especially if you can get some work experience. It’s also an opportunity to make the work that will be in your portfolio and to learn from people who work in the games industry.

That said, it’s far from the deciding factor.

How To Break Into The Industry

Much like the VFX industry, the games industry can be incredibly tough to crack into. Jobs are almost always scarce and the competition is fierce. Studios receive countless applications from incredibly skilled and talented people who are desperate to break into the industry.

Now, we’re not saying you have to be the best but you do have to meet an incredibly high standard. On top of that, if you really want to land a role you have to be specific.

Do you want to work in character design? Do you want to work on environments? Do you lean towards photorealism or stylisation? And if it’s the latter, what kind of stylisation?

Art styles of games vary hugely, particularly in the double-A/indie scene where many are now getting their start. For example, did you know that you can be a concept artist for pixel art games? Or retro-style games?

Of course, if you want to have the best job opportunities, make sure to thoroughly research your niche before building a portfolio around that. Small studios will always be most excited about the candidate who’s a perfect fit for their game but the more niche your style, the fewer studios that will apply to.

Finding Concept Art Jobs in 2026

So you’ve developed your skills. You’ve built your portfolio. You’re ready to become a concept artist.

You might think the hard part is behind you but, in practise, this is where it gets really tough. As we said before, jobs for concept artists in video games are scarce, so if you want to secure a good role then you need to be on top of the job market.

You need to be tracking new jobs as listings go up. You need to be sending thoughtful and well-written applications to any that apply to you. You may even want to consider relocating/saving up enough money to relocate if needed. While many studios work remotely, it’s not universal and you really do want to cast a wide net.

At the same time, keep making new portfolio pieces. Post regularly to ArtStation. Perhaps most importantly of all, network.

If you’re not comfortable with social media, then now’s the time to get comfortable. The online art community isn’t just for hobbyists. Many professionals hang out there and by far the easiest way to land any job is to already have a foot through the door.

If you’re into voice chatting then hop on some public Discord servers while you’re working. You have to find the right communities but chatting on Discord is a great way to make artsy friends while also getting feedback on your work. It’s not for everyone but it’ll certainly boost your chances if you can.

And with all of that said, try to have fun with it. Landing a concept art job will take a long time and a lot of work. If you don’t want to burn out then you’ll have to get comfortable mixing work and play. Making art, sharing it, and networking online can be really rewarding for its own sake so try to enjoy the process and be prepared to spend a few years searching through the job lists before you land your big break.